The Daily Campus

Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Ryan Sayers Michael Hogan, shown here accepting his presidencey in August, was formally welcomed by the Mansfield community on Friday evening at the Mansfield Community Center.

Friday evening the new UConn President, Michael Hogan, and his wife, Virginia, were welcomed to the area by Mansfield residents in a reception held at the Mansfield Community Center. The event was hosted by Mansfield mayor Elizabeth Paterson, and town manager Matt Hart.

"I think this is the first time a UConn president has had a conference off-campus to meet and greet the Mansfield community," Paterson said.

During her opening address, Paterson told residents that she thought "Mike" was "the right person for the job."

"We've been impressed with how [president Hogan] has opened [himself] to the community already," Hart said. "I'm confident that under Michael's leadership [town-university] relations will make great strides."

Throughout the welcoming ceremony, Paterson repeatedly assured the Hogans and a full audience that "Mike" was the best out of all the candidates that the presidential search committee, which she was a part of, considered for the post.

"Believe me when I say how much confidence the [search committee] has in [president Hogan]," Paterson said. "The committee was unanimous in its decision. To have everyone in agreement about one person is great. It doesn't happen often in Mansfield and may never happen again."

Following the welcoming by Paterson and Hart, Hogan addressed the residents telling them how much he has already come to "appreciate the sheer beauty of the community" from his morning walks.

"I plan to stay actively engaged as we [UConn and Mansfield] work together," Hogan said. "If UConn is going to attract the best faculty and students, we'll need a great college town."

Hogan went on to pledge his commitment to helping Mansfield and UConn grow responsibly together.

"If you look at universities with great college towns, the town benefits from the relationship too," Hogan said. "Good university towns attract entrepreneurs hoping to benefit from the research done in the university laboratories."

Continued...

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